Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Preview, Stats, Key Players, And Prediction

‎Crystal Palace head to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday looking to bounce back from a humbling 1-0 defeat to AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League a loss that marred what should have been a historic night at Selhurst Park.

‎Arsenal, meanwhile, welcome them to North London in superb form, top of the Premier League and brimming with confidence after a string of resilient performances.

‎Mateta Still the Man for Palace

‎Jean-Philippe Mateta continues to be both Palace’s biggest hope and greatest source of frustration.

‎The French striker missed a stoppage-time sitter against Bournemouth that could have sealed a 4-3 win for Oliver Glasner’s side, and against AEK Larnaca, he hit the bar and squandered several other chances.

‎Yet, there’s no doubting Mateta’s importance. He remains their leading scorer this season with five goals, topping the club’s charts for total shots (28) and shots on target (16).

‎Interestingly, Mateta was also on the scoresheet the last time Palace faced Arsenal at the Emirates, a thrilling 2-2 draw in the 2024/25 campaign a game in which Eberechi Eze, now playing for Arsenal, also found the net.

‎That aside, Arsenal have held the upper hand in this fixture in recent years. They are unbeaten in the last six meetings, scoring at least twice in five of those and netting five goals on two occasions.

‎Form Favors Arsenal

‎Mikel Arteta’s men have hit a rich vein of form since their narrow 1-0 loss to Liverpool. The Gunners have won four and drawn one of their last five, keeping things tight at the back and never conceding more than once in that time.

‎Sitting proudly at the top of the Premier League table, Arsenal’s defensive solidity and clinical finishing have been central to their success. Another victory on Sunday would guarantee their place at least three points clear of Manchester City.

‎Crystal Palace, though sitting eighth, are just three points off second-placed City in a tightly packed early table. They’ve lost just once in their last six away at Everton and have carried their strong finish to last season into this campaign.

‎At home, Arsenal have won three and drawn one this term, while Palace’s away record of two wins, one draw, and one defeat shows they are far from pushovers on the road.

‎Stat Battle

‎This clash brings together two sides who dominate different statistical categories.

‎Palace topped the Premier League for shots on target (43), proof of their attacking intent under Glasner. Arsenal leads the league in total shots (123) and has conceded the fewest goals (just three).

‎Surprisingly, the Gunners rank only fifth for total passes completed (3,931), a statistic that feels almost alien given Arteta’s heavy emphasis on possession-based football.

‎Gyökeres and Mateta Lead the Line

‎Arsenal’s new talisman, Viktor Gyökeres, has quickly established himself as a crucial figure. The Swedish striker leads the Gunners with three goals and is joint-top in total shots (18) and shots on target (seven).

‎Palace’s dependency on Mateta is even more evident, with the Frenchman responsible for almost all of their attacking output so far.

‎Elsewhere, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Adam Wharton all share the league-high of 13 chances created, each showing their creativity and control in midfield.

‎Wharton’s role could be pivotal. His ability to win duels and spring Palace into attack will be key if the visitors are to threaten Arsenal’s well-drilled defence.

‎For the hosts, Rice’s presence ensures the Gunners rarely lose control in the middle third.

‎At the back, Marc Guehi continues to impress, leading his team in passes (424) and forming the backbone of Glasner’s defensive setup. He’ll need to be at his sharpest to contain Arsenal’s multi-layered attack.

‎Late Drama Likely

‎Both sides have shown a tendency to start slowly this season. Goals in the opening half hour have been scarce for either team.

‎Instead, the action tends to pick up before and after halftime. Arsenal have scored four times in both the 30–45 and 45–60-minute windows, while Palace’s strongest spells come in the final 15 minutes of each half, where they’ve scored three times.

‎However, that same late period has also been their Achilles’ heel Palace have conceded four goals between the 75th and 90th minutes, precisely when Arsenal are at their most lethal (five goals in the same interval).

‎That pattern hints at a dramatic finale on Sunday. If Arsenal grab the opener and they’ve gone on to win every match in which they’ve scored first this season it could be a long afternoon for Glasner’s men.

‎Team News

‎Arteta will once again be without Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, and Kai Havertz, who all remain sidelined.

‎Palace will travel without Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucouré, both long-term absentees.

‎Prediction

‎With Arsenal’s home form, superior depth, and confidence, the odds are stacked in their favour. Palace’s shot accuracy and fighting spirit may make it competitive, but the Gunners’ quality, particularly in the closing stages, should see them through.

‎Prediction: Arsenal 3–1 Crystal Palace